Makeover model

Frontiers August 2012 Issue

Makeover model
Renovation of Boeing’s rotorcraft site near Philadelphia is accomplished
without disrupting vital production
By Debby Arkell and photos by Fred Troilo
Ahow tricky upgrading an older helicopters at ever increasing rates. - construction. In June 2009, Project Imple-within Shared Services Group’s (SSG)Site Services, is responsible for the majorSuch is the task of Project Implemenwhile workers are building high-technologynyone who has ever tackled ahome-renovation project knows
home can be. One change often leads tation teams at Boeing’s factory in Ridley mentation teams in Philadelphia began this
to others, and sticking to a budget and Township, a Philadelphia suburb, where massive project. That work continues—
schedule can be challenging. CH-47 Chinook military helicopters are built. within budget and on schedule.
Imagine renovating an 83-year-old Fuselage assemblies for the V-22 Osprey tilt- “This is by far the biggest Boeing
rotorcraft factory, upgrading 400,000 square rotor aircraft also are produced at the site, investment made at Philadelphia,” said
feet (37,000 square meters) of manufactur- but in a different building. Boeing’s Chris Calhoun, project manager.
ing space and aging infrastructure, all Project Implementation, a service group “It’s one thing to build new to support a
PHOTOS: (Clockwise from above left) Upgrades completed at Boeing’s rotorcraft plant near Philadelphia have turned an 83-year-old
building into a state-of-the-art manufacturing facility; reintroduction of windows at the Chinook factory lets in lots of natural light and allows
employees to see test flights of the helicopters they build; more than 1,100 construction workers have been involved in the renovation
effort; the project has required careful choreography so construction crews do not interfere with fast-paced helicopter production.
32 BOEING FRONTIERS / AUGUST 2012